Wondering if anyone would have or know where.....

[randycmaynard]

I could find a couple of top panels for my Westy Spacemates washer and dryer? In the photo attached to this thread you can see a counter top sitting on top of the machines - they were originally an under counter installation so there is no top except the counter top as you see in the photo. Ron (Dynaflow) and I talked about it in passing when I picked up the mates Monday and the more I've thought about it the more I would like to have metal top panels for the machines.

Still plan to use the counter top even with the metal top panels - will give me a nice place to fold laundry when it's finshed in the dryer. Plus, I think the panels would keep the front lip of the counter top from hitting the control panel knobs where it hangs over the front of the machines.

Thanks much!

Randy - Knoxville,TN

 

[bajaespuma]

You wouldn't necessarily want them

Randy, I had a spacemate dryer once and I can tell you that the metal top that came with them is sort of a let-down. It has a couple of ridges on the sides and then a big wide rise at the back where the backsplashers would have been on the old Westinghouse front-loaders(like the ones Pearl Bailey was modeling). So if you put two of them together you wouldn't get a nice flat continuous surface. I wanted to trade mine in for a flat countertop exactly like the one you have in the picture. If anything, I would have someone custom build a flat counter-top that is measured to fit perfectly on top of those nice machines.

I don't remember anyone doing a thread on this yet, but I've often wondered what people prefer. Consumer's Reports always gave brownie points to those washers and dryers, like GE's and GM 1-18's that had ridges on the cabinet tops to contain spills from liquid additives, but I always liked the smooth flat surfaces on the Maytag's and Hotpoints. (Surfaces, darling, surfaces!)

 

[tomturbomatic]

Ken's right. The top is not flat. Use some two part Velcro tape to anchor the countertop you have, like along the front to keep the front edge of the counter top from hitting the control panel area.

 

[randycmaynard]

Thanks for the info guys.......

Like the velcro tape idea to keep the counter top in place - will definately look into that when I get them permenantly installed.

 

[randycmaynard]

Thanks for the info guys.......

Like the velcro tape idea to keep the counter top in place - will definately look into that when I get them permenantly installed.

 

[randycmaynard]

Ooops! Double post.....

Sorry....

 

[alr2903]

Randy i think back when J.C. Penney had your westinghouses in the catalogue, the plan was to stack the washer and dryer, If you planned to use side by side, i think you purchased the washers finsished top separately. alr2903

 

[combo52]

COUNTER TOPS FOR WH W&Ds

There were two different tops for these machines. One was the finished top with the spill ridges formed in. The other was an almost flat galvanized steel top to be used on the washer & dryer as a fire and moisture guard between the machines and a wooden counter top. The metal top is very important on the dryer because of where the heating element is located at the rear of the drum it can get really hot I have seen counter tops actually turn black over the heater area. The fire department probably saw the more severe cases. This dryer is too old to have the thermal cut off on the back wall of the machine to prevent severe over heating. The post formed counter top you are using should have an extra strip of wood added at least 1o2" wide on the underside of the counter top so it doesn't slip down over the controls, it may also need extra wood at the rear.

 

[randycmaynard]

John.......

Yes there is a strip of wood on the underside front of the counter top but in looking at it I would need to add a strip across the back to allow for a space for air flow and to keep just what you said from happening over the dryer. Definately don't want the machines or the house going up in flames.

Tomorrow morning I'm going to start cleaning the area of the garage where their permenant place will be and I'm going to keep the counter top but fix it where it won't slip down over the control panels but also raise it in the back for the air circulation. Will also make a nice place for folding laundry as well.